Visible-card system



1,631,732 June 1927- F. H. JOHNSTON VIS'IBLE CARD SYSTEM Original Filed May .24,- 192;

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Patented Jnne '7, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,631,732 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. JOHNSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

ACME CARD SYSTEM COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORPORATION OF ILLI- NOIS.

VISIBLE-CARD SYSTEM.

Application filed May 24, 1922', serial No. 563,237. Renewed January 14, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in visible car-d systems and refers more particularly to a protective sheath or strip which is positioned along the lower or exposed edge of the card to prevent wearing or dog- ,earing of the cards, and further, keeping the edges of the cards clean and the identify ng or printing data thereon plainly legible.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a card holder in which index cards may be reniovably placed and held in position upon a card support; to provide a construction in which both the protective strip and card may beeasily removed from the card holder'and replaced quickly after the entries have been placed upon the cards, or a new card put in place.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary face view of a portion of the frame with the overlapping cards in position on the hangers.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of one corner of the card holder with the protective strip and corner of the card showing.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the construct-ion shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a corner of the card holder and the fastening wire or staple for holding the protective strip and card.

Fig. 5 is a modified form of construction with the protective strip and card in place.

Fig. 6 is a detailed View showing the con-' struction. used in Fig. 5 with the card and protective strip removed. v

Fig. 7 is a further modification in which a tape strip is used for the fastening or cardsupporting element.

Fig. 8 is a view of the modified form shown in Fig. 7 with the card and protective strip removed.

Referring to the drawing, a frame 1 has along its lateral edges channels 2 behind which are held the flexible wire hangers 3. These hangers support card holders 4 by means of the hinge clips 5, the latter being removably attached to the cards which form the bodies of the card holders and formed with the cylindrical holes in the upper portions by means of which they are threaded upon the ends of the hangers 3. The card holders may be removed from the hangers by merely bending them centrally, thus shortening the length of the cards so that the hinges may be slid from the hangers.

The card holder 4 has near its upper edge va curved slit 4, which serves to provide an overlapping tongue engaging the top of the index vcard {3 which it overlaps and assists in holding in place. On the lateral edges of the card holder near the lower edge, are cut slots l in which are placed the staples 7 which extend diagonally from the slots to the bottom edge of the card. holders and which have their legs 7 bent along the back surface of the card holder, the extremities 7" piercing the card holders .and' being turned back to clinch the staples fixedly thereto. These staples being positioned on the lateral edges of thecard holders diag0- nally across their lower corners, serve to hold the protective strip 8 in position by engaging the slots 8 cut into the ends of the protective strips.

These protective strips may be of any desired material, those shown in the drawing being preferably of transparent or translucent substance such as celluloid, pyrolin or the like, either white or colored as desired.

In Fig. 1, the'card 6 is shown in place on the card holder 4 with the overlapping tongue ofthe card holder in 4 engaging its upper edge and being supported by the staples 7 on its lower edge." The protective strips cover the lower 01." exposed edges of the card and prevent the soiling of the cards from continuous use,and materially lengthen the life of the cards, as the strips are made of more durable substance and thev withstand use for a considerably greater period of time. This construction also permits theremoval and replacement of the cards by simply withdrawing the cards from the upper and overlapping tongue and raising it from the engagement with the supporting staples 7. The card shown in Fig. 1 and used in connection with the retaining staples and protective strip shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 would necessarily be of somewhat smaller size than the card holder 4, due to the fact that the slots 4 are of considerable depth, and the cards to fit between the staples must'necessarily be some what shorter than the card-holding portion l. I

In the modified form of construction, that shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the staples are fastened or attached to the cards diagonally across the corners of the card holders so that a normal size card or a card substanfabric or durable paper glued diagonally across the corner of the tially the same size as the "aid holder may be used. in such a construction it is only necessary to slot the protective strip as shown at 8?) in order to hold the strips in place and prevent their removal ith the cards.

Avery similar type of construction is shown in the modified form in Figs. 7 and 8. Here, instead of using the metal staples such as shown at T in the former figures, a strip 9' may be card holders to support the cards in a similar manner as that explained in connection with the metallic staples. The protective strips in this type of construction will necessarily be shouldered as shown at 8 in order to engage the lower edges of the strips to be held in position.

, A further feature or the single-ply protective strip used in connection with the overlapping visible card system is the fact that there is no pocket formed about the lower edges oi the cards to collect dirt and dust and not only soil the cards, but obliterate-the identifying data which is printed upon the visible portion of the index card. This construction also has the added advantage o1 being easily removable and readily replaced by neiv strips and cards, and

simplicity is light and easily handled by the operator.

I claim as my invention 7 1. In a visible card system, the combination With a frame of a plurality of overlapping card holders mounted on said frame, said holders comprising diagonally 1305] tioned retaining members and protective strips engaged by the retaining members and covering the exposed edgesof cards in the card holders.

2. In a visible card system, the combination with a frame of a plurality of overlap ping card holders mounted on said frame,

said holders comprising retaining members comprising the entire construction lll'iLClClltlOll to its positioned behind the retaining members and substantially covering the exposed portions of cards in the card holders. 4:. In a visible card system, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of overlap,

ping card holders hinged to said fran'ie, and comprising retaining members fastened adjacent the corners of the card holders, cards removably positioned in said holders, and protective strips removably positionedbehind the retaining n'ieinbers and cove ring the exposed edges of the cards,

5; In a visible card system, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of overlapping card-holders hinged to said frame, and retaining members iastened across the corners of thecard holders, cards removably positioned in said holders, and

protective strips removably positioned behind the retaining members covering the exposed edges 01 the cards, said retaining members preventing the removal of the protective strips with the removal ojtthe cards.

6. In a visible card system, the combination With a frame, of a plurality of overlapping card holders hinged to said frame,

and comprising; card retaining members across the lower'corners of the card holders and a member adapted to overlap the upper edge of the card and index cards removably carried by said cardholders;

' FRANK H. J OHNSTON; 

